Even though the project faces some serious fund-raising hurdles and a best-case
scenario might see the building finished by 2006, university administrators felt
they couldn't wait to hook up with an architecture team.

"The idea was to go ahead and hire architects now, because we think that in the
time frame we're looking at, their design won't be outdated when we finally get
around to construction," said Terry Holland, the university's former athletic director
and now assistant to the president. "With a target cost in the $120 million range,
we've got substantial fund raising in front of us and it's tough to do that without
renderings."

Ellerbe Becket and VMDO — along with the facility planning firm Brailsford
& Dunlavey, which is doing an economic analysis for the designers — are
charged with developing plans for a venue to replace 35-year-old University Hall,
which has a capacity of just 8,450.

The new building, which may include a parking garage, is planned for a site directly
across the street from University Hall.

"Depending on funds that are available and other things the university may want
to consider along the way, we're looking at a building that will hold 12,000 to
15,000," said Bob Moje of VMDO. "There are a lot of variables involved."